Consultancy Project officer: Parliaments and AI policy

Description

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a transformative technology with the potential to impact every aspect of society. AI can bring about economic growth, improve healthcare, and address climate change, but it also poses risks such as job displacement, erosion of privacy, discrimination including on the basis of gender.

Parliaments have a crucial role in ensuring that AI is developed and used in a way that benefits society as a whole and is grounded in international human rights. They must provide legal frameworks, ethical guidelines, and oversight mechanisms to maximize the benefits of AI while mitigating its risks. Additionally, they should foster public dialogue and engagement to build trust and understanding around AI technologies.

IPU has established a project to work on Parliaments and AI policy in follow-up to the October 2024 IPU resolution on The impact of artificial intelligence on democracy, human rights and the rule of law. The scope of the project encompasses all the work done by parliaments within their legislative, oversight and representative functions. This includes the overall governance of AI as well as the intersection of AI with issues such as copyright, data protection, online harms, deepfakes, gender-based violence, national security, and onwards. Parliamentary actions include legislation but also committee inquiries, public hearings, stakeholder consultations, establishing dedicated parliamentary bodies, and so on.
In the current phase of the project, IPU has begun to track the legislative, oversight and representation work of parliaments through the web page on Parliamentary actions on AI policy, updated monthly. A major parliamentary conference on The Role of Parliament in Shaping the Future of Responsible AI will be jointly organized by the IPU and partners in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) on 28-30 November 2025.

This consultancy will contribute the next phase of the project, to the end of 2026. It aims to support parliaments in their work on AI policy through the exchange of experience and knowledge, as well as identifying good practice and developing standards and guidelines. It is expected that the project will continue beyond 2026, subject to the priorities set out in the next IPU Strategy and availability of funds.

The project on Parliaments and AI policy sits within the broader framework of parliament\’s role in digital policy and internet governance, and complements the IPU\’s existing work within the Centre for Innovation in Parliament on the digital transformation of parliaments.
For more information on IPU\’s work on AI, see

Organizational setting and reporting relationships

The consultant will work in the Resource Centre in the Division of Programmes of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and report to the Programme manager, Parliamentary standards and knowledge.

Accountabilities

Within delegated authority, the consultant will:

• Facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience between parliaments on AI policy, notably parliamentary actions on legislation and oversight of AI
• Develop a community of practice among parliamentarians, parliamentary staff and experts
• Organize online and in-person events relating to parliaments and AI policy
• Prepare publications relating to parliamentary work on AI policy
• Enhance parliamentary engagement with key UN events and processes
• Mainstream gender perspectives and a human rights-based approach
• Strengthen partnerships with relevant international and parliamentary organisations
• Contribute to the strategic planning and implementation of IPU\’s programme of work on AI policy
• Contribute to fundraising, reporting and donor relations regarding IPU\’s work on AI policy
• Contribute to the work of the IPU-UNDP \“Expert group on parliaments and digital policy\“
• Provide, as requested, other assistance to IPU\’s work in related areas

Work will involve regular interaction with:

• Members and staff of parliaments
• Partner organizations
• Experts in the field of digital policy and AI
• IPU colleagues, including the Centre for Innovation in Parliament

Deliverables

Deliverables will include:

1/ Parliamentary events are organized, notably:

• IPU-led parliamentary conferences on AI policy
• An IPU-led webinar series on parliaments and AI
• Sessions on AI policy at IPU Assemblies
• Parliamentary Track events at the Internet Governance Forum
• Parliamentary participation in relevant international fora, such as the AI for Good Summit and the AI Impact Summit

2/ Knowledge products are produced, such as case studies, good practice examples, policy guidance, interviews with parliaments, reports on implementation of the 2024 IPU resolution

3/ A community of practice is developed, fostering exchange between parliamentarians who work on AI policy

4/ Partnerships are strengthened with existing partners and new partnerships are forged and developed

Requirements

Candidates for the consultancy should be able to demonstrate:

• Advanced university degree, and at least 5 years\‘ professional experience at increasing levels of responsibility
• Practical experience of working on issues related to AI policy
• Demonstrated capacity to produce knowledge products targeted at decision-makers
• Experience in organizing in-person and online events

Desirable experience includes:

• Working with parliaments, preferably in more than one country
• Mainstreaming gender and human rights
• Establishing or working with communities of practice

Duration
The consultancy is for up to 180 days of work. It would begin at the earliest possible mutually agreed date and run until 31 December 2026. Subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds, the consultancy may be extended to the next phase of the project.

Location
The consultancy is home-based. The work may require occasional participation in events in Geneva or elsewhere. It would also be possible, but is not a requirement, for the consultant to work from IPU headquarters in Geneva.

How to apply

Candidates should provide the following:

• Curriculum vitae
• A brief description of why they are the right person for this consultancy, including details of their personal contribution to at least two relevant projects
• Expected daily fee
• Information about their availability to begin work

The deadline for applications is 29 October 2025. Applications should be sent by e-mail to with \“Project officer: Parliaments and AI policy\“ in the subject line. For further details about the consultancy, please contact Andy Richardson at the IPU Secretariat ).
Applicants will be contacted only if they are under serious consideration. Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted.

Employment conditions

The External Collaborator is an independent contractor, is not considered to be an official or employee of the IPU and is not subject to the IPU Staff Regulations and Staff Rules. The External Collaborator is not entitled to recover from the IPU any income tax payable in respect of the fee provided under this contract and shall be solely liable for the payment of any national income tax due in respect of the emoluments payable under this contract. The External Collaborator will not be included in the IPU pension scheme.

Recruitment principles

Our guiding principle in selecting candidates is to secure the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity. We do not discriminate on any grounds and are committed to promoting diversity in our workforce.
Particular attention is paid to candidates from developing countries and to achieving gender balance. We strive to provide an environment where the contribution of each individual is valued.

All our consultants are expected to possess the following qualities:

• Motivation and a strong commitment to our principles
• Ability to work well in a multicultural team
• High level of technical knowledge relevant to the post
• Work experience at national and/or international level
• Fluency in at least one of our official languages (English, French) and a working knowledge of a second language. Additional languages are an asset

We ask all our staff to agree to our Code of conduct for personnel and our Fraud and corruption prevention policy available at .

Deadline:

Wednesday, 29 October 2025